Conveyer frame structure



Dec. 28, 1954 w. L. wEARLY CONVEYER FRAME STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Original Filed Nov. 25, 1948 Dec. 28, 1954 w. l.. WEARLY CONVEYER FRAME STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Nov. 23, 1948 Q w o [2206222029:| 11) -Zz' 22214222 f2/fedi@ @y United States Patent() CoNvEYER FRAix/IEl STRUCTURE Continuation `of application SerialNoi 61,567,\November V'lhisiapplicationfMarch `10, 1953SerialNo.

. v s D I This inventionrelatesto belt yconveyorsfandrmore:particularly to` a' frame, `structure for v-belt conveyors Iin which the frame which supports the kworkrun-of 'the belt-is so constituted, at selected locations, that it automatically follows any transversezmisalinement'tot thework run; this application is a continuation of myi applica-tion Serial No. 61,567, tiled November 23, A19458,A and-.nowlabandoned.

These are many'factors whichfcause the :belts of ybelt conveyors to wander from side to-side. For example, 1n many. applications, `the m-aterial'to be conveyedfisiloaded on the belt in such a manner that the material is1 moving, atthetirne of load/ing, insxafdirection transverse-to :the direction of motionof the` conveyorbelt. The inertia of the-material-hasy atendency to'tlirowtthe belt'out of alinement; inasmuch as-some form of,guide-orztrestraining means, suchas sideboards,-orspillboards arergene'rally usedatol keep thebelt--in4 its yproper path of! travel,.any extraordinary transversey displacement of fthebelt causes undue wearof'the edgeofthe belt against the sideboards and occasions early failure Aof .thewbelt "Furthermore, in many applications'ofbeltconveyors int-industrygtthe material conveyed iislloaded. onto the belt` byfa'vehicleg-such as a shuttleccar, whichlfrequently'bumpsi-theconveyori at the loading station-twhile comingtzin tol` unload. yVtherc yno provision fismade for theaconveyor to yieldwatthat point, the entire structure is knocked out of line.

It is accordingly an object of this invention to provide a belt support for a conveyor belt which allows the belt to wander within certain' limits. "More specically, it is an object of this invention to provide a support for a belt conveyor which allows the belt to wander somewhat from its usual path Without adversely affecting the belt. lt is another object of the invention to provide supporting means for the belt of an endless belt conveyor which may yield somewhat if bumped, and return to normal alinement after the bumping force is removed. These and other objects are accomplished in a mechanism which consists of a' first framework and a second framework, the second framework being mounted on the rst in such a manner as to be movable relative thereto transversely of the direction of belt motion; the second frame desirably carries means to support the belt in a troughlike contiguration and is provided with guide means which are adapted to engage the edge of the belt in order to initiate such transverse adjustment of the second frame on the rst as may be necessary.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a loading station embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in section on line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a view in section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a view in section on line 4-4 of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a view in section on line 5 5 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 6 is a view in section on line 6 6 of Fig. 3.

A belt conveyor embodying this invention will be placed on any suitable subjacent surface 2 such as a mine bottom or the like. The conveyor is mounted on a plurality of longitudinally spaced legs 4. The legs 4 carry a framework, indicated generally at 6. The framework is made up of sections, and the legs 4 support the mutually adjacent ends of contiguous sections. The sections each include a pair of side frame members 8; the latter may conveniently be made of structural steel angle stock or the like. A conveyor cover plate 10, preferably of sheet metal, is secured to the side frame members 8 by any suitable fastening means such as the nut and bolt assemblies. 12. Transverse stiffening members 14 are preferably secured to and between the sideframe members" at spaced intervals by any suitable means, as, for example, by welding.

The conveyor sections, other than the` particular section which is employed ata loading station, carry conventional appropriately bracket-supported belt-guiding and supportingidlers 15.

A bracket 16 is secured to eacli legv 4. An idler roller 18 isjournaledat its ends in the opposed alined brackets i6. .Thusa plurality. of rollersl 18 .areprovided to support the return run ofthe belt. l

' Turning now particularly to the special arrangements which are provided at a loading station, the following will be observed. fAs is best seen in Fig. 5, a bracketI 20 is provided with a pair o'fcloselyspac'ed ear'sl 22 substantially at right angles tothe bracket'fandthe side frame members 8. The bracket 20 is secured tothe side frame memberby any suitableineans such as the nut andrbolt assemblies 24. The ears 22 are provided with alinedopenings in which there is mounted a pin 26 held in place by a cotter pin 28. A rotatable member 3l), sueltas `the flanged roller shown, isnmounted on the pin 26. Thus the roller 30 rotates about an axis which is substantially parallel tothe direction-of belt movement. ln the preferred form of the embodiment rshown in the drawings, two brackets 2t) are provided on' each side frame member 8, each with its roller.

A second framework indicated generally at 32 is mounted on therst framework. In the framework 32 there are two'side frarnemembers i4-'secured to ltransverse frame members 36. At the ends of the transversevmembers y36, there are provided rail 'members 38 secured thereto by any suitablemeanstas by welding` as shown atm) in Figs.' 5 and 6. The rail members extend outward with their a-xes substantially at right angles tothe direction. of ybelt movement and are arranged to ride on' the anged rollers 30. vIt willy be seen thatthe rail'members 38 are track-forming elements, and that the flanged rollers` 30- are track-engaging elementsfwhich cooperate with the members Sfte guide the latter. A pin 42'ex-tends between the two spaced ears 221of each bracket: andserves to preventxtheaccidental-separation of the second framework fromithe'rst, because'each rail 33 `islocated between a anged roller 30 and a pin 42.

A plurality of belt supporting rollers are provided on the second framework 32 in such a manner as to support the Work run of the belt 44 in a trough-like configuration. To this end two guide rollers or troughing idlers 46 are mounted in brackets 48 and 50 to rotate about axes which are inclined to the horizontal as shown in the drawings. See especially Fig. 3. rl`he rollers 46 are provided in pairs, one pair at each end of the framework 32, and elevate the edges of the belt to form the sides of the carrying trough. The bottom of the carrying trough is formed by the belt being supported on a third roller 52 cooperating with the rollers 46 and somewhat spaced therefrom in the direction of belt movement as can be seen in Fig. l. The roller 52 is mounted for rotation in brackets 54.

The belt moves along the rollers between a pair of guides 56 mounted on the second framework 32 by means of brackets 58. The guides 56 have down-turned inward extending flanges 60 and upward extending flanges 62. The upward extending flanges 62 dene planes which are substantially perpendicular to the axes of rotation of their respective rollers 46. The guides are ared outward at their ends in the horizontal plane, and also in the vertical direction as shown at 64, so that no sharp edge may be presented to the belt as it moves into the guide.

Operation If a mineral, such as coal, is deposited on the belt from one side with a considerable velocity, it will have a tendency to displace the belt sidewise. With ordinary loading stations, this sidewise displacement causes the belt edge to bear against the guide means 56, causing wear of the edge which may bring about premature failure of the belt. With a loading station made according to this invention, when the belt edge bears against the guide 56, it moves the entire belt support sidewise, thus relieving pressure on the edge of the belt and avoiding the unnecessary wear which takes place with a conventional loading station.

Furthermore, if a conventional loading station is bumped, as by a shuttle car moving against it to unload, such conventional station is likely to be pushed out of alinement and might remain so misalined for some time. Tension in the belt will tend to straighten out the belt, causing one edge of the belt to bear against the sideboards in the misalined station. lf a station made according to the invention is bumped, the transversely movable carriage yields in response to the displacing force, and when that force is removed, the belt tension re-alines the loading station.

Two operating conditions are set forth herein which might cause undue belt wear when conventional loading stations are used; such wear is prevented under those conditions by a station made according to the invention. Other conditions may occur to those skilled in the art.

While there is in this application specifically described one form which the invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that this form of the same is shown for purposes of illustration, and that the invention may be modified and embodied in various other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In an endless belt conveyor, an endless belt, and supporting means for the belt including a lower supporting frame structure adapted to rest upon a subjacent surface and having guiding and supporting means for the return run of the belt including idler rollers extending transversely of and rotatably supported by the frame structure and having journalling means precluding bodily longitudinal movement of the idler rollers relative to the r supporting frame7 an upper frame structure having guide rollers for the work run of the belt supported thereon for rotation on axes fixed relative to the upper frame structure and extending transversely thereof, and means to guide the upper frame structure for bodily transverse i 2. In an endless belt conveyor, an endless belt, and 1 supporting and guiding means for the belt including (l) a supporting frame structure adapted to rest on a subjacent surface and having rotatably supported thereon idlers for supporting and guiding the return run of the belt and,

in spaced relation to each other but in iixed relation to the supporting frame, spaced troughing idlers for the work run of the belt, (2) in a position between spaced troughing idlers, a second frame structure carrying in fixed relation thereto other troughing idlers to support the work run of the belt, and (3) means to support and guide the second frame structure for bodily movement, in a direction transverse to the direction in which the endless conveyor belt extends, relative to the first-mentioned troughing idlers and the idlers which support the return run of the belt.

3. Supporting means for the belt of an endless belt conveyor, comprising: a lower supporting frame structure, guide means to support the return run of the belt including idlers supported by said structure for rotation about axes xed with respect to the structure, an upper frame structure, guide means to support the Work run of the belt including idlers supported on the upper frame structure for rotation on axes fixed with respect to the upper frame structure, and means to guide the upper frame structure for movement relative to the lower frame structure and transverse to the direction of normal belt movement.

4. Supporting means as in claim 3, in which the lastnamed means includes track-forming elements and trackengaging elements cooperable therewith.

5. Supporting means as in claim 4, in which the trackforming elements comprise rail members secured to one of the frame structures, and the track-engaging elements comprise rollers rotatably mounted on the other frame structure.

6. Supporting means for the belt of an endless belt conveyor, comprising: a supporting frame structure, guide means to support the return run of the belt including idlers supported by said structure for rotation about axes fixed with respect to the structure, spaced troughing idlers for the work run of the belt also supported by said structure for rotation about axes iixed with respect to the structure, a second frame structure disposed between spaced troughing idlers, guide means to support the work run of the belt including idlers supported on the second frame structure for rotation on axes iixed with respect to the second frame structure, and means to guide the second frame structure for movement relative to the iirst-named frame structure transverse to the direction of conveyor belt movement.

No references cited. 

